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Dan Stevens Joins Legion Creator's Astronaut Film Pale Blue Dot

Legion star Dan Stevens will stick with Noah Hawley, signing on for the director’s astronaut drama Pale Blue Dot. Hawley created the FX series Legion, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. He also created the acclaimed series Fargo, inspired by the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning film.

Having brought to life two of TV’s most fascinating, experimental TV shows, Hawley will next try his hand at feature films. For his debut movie Pale Blue Dot, Hawley has recruited stars Natalie Portman and Jon Hamm. The story centers on Portman’s astronaut character who, after returning to earth from a long mission, begins an affair with her colleague, played by Hamm. Soon, Hamm's character launches another affair with a trainee played by Deadpool 2 actress Zazie Beetz, sending Portman into an emotional tailspin. And now, it looks like yet another top-tier actor has been added to the impressive cast list.

THR reports Noah Hawley’s Pale Blue Dot has also added Dan Stevens to the cast. Stevens reportedly plays Portman’s husband, who she cheats on with Hamm's character. The story written by Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi is based on a notorious 2007 incident involving an astronaut love triangle that ended with one of the principals attempting to kidnap her romantic rival.

The soap opera element of Pale Blue Dot should be familiar to Stevens, who initially gained fame by playing Matthew Crawley in the hit British series Downton Abbey. Stevens left the cozy confines of Downton early to launch a movie career, appearing in such films as A Walk Among the Tombstones, Norman, and Colossal. Stevens’ biggest film role to date, however, has been playing the Beast opposite Emma Watson in Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. In addition to Pale Blue Dot, Stevens has also lined up roles in Gareth Evans’ religious cult drama Apostle and the Alex Ross Perry film Her Smell.

Stevens certainly has developed a solid working relationship with Noah Hawley through their time on Legion. Season 1 saw Stevens’ character David Haller grappling with his literal inner-demon the Shadow King, a psychic parasite that latched onto his brain in infancy and afterward made his life a schizophrenic hell. Though Haller "vanquished" the Shadow King, his troubles were far from over. Season 2 has put Stevens’ character through the wringer again, forcing him to face the trauma of discovering an apocalyptic future while dealing with the death of his supportive sister Amy (Kate Aselton). And, of course, the unleashed Shadow King still lurks, as does David’s crazy old pal Lenny (Aubrey Plaza).

Legion has evolved into a visually impressive, highly unconventional TV show under Hawley’s watch. The question now is, what sort of style will he bring to Pale Blue Dot, which is a very different kind of story? He has undoubtedly put together a top-notch cast, with Stevens joining Oscar-winner Portman, Emmy-winner Hamm, and rising star Beetz for a project that sounds like it could potentially garner awards consideration itself.